[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 85111-85112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26850]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2022-0222]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Okeechobee Waterway, Stuart, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; modification.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is modifying a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad 
Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, 
Florida. This modification extends the period the drawbridge may 
operate under the temporary deviation to the drawbridge operating 
schedule. This modification will allow the Coast Guard to review public 
comments and will provide continuity in the operation of the drawbridge 
until a determination is made if this temporary deviation will meet the 
reasonable needs of competing modes of transportation.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 12:01 a.m. on December 18, 
2023, through 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type the 
docket number (USCG-2022-0222) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH''. In the Document Type column, select ``Supporting & Related 
Material''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Ms. Jennifer Zercher, Bridge 
Management Specialist, Seventh Coast Guard District; telephone 305-415-
6740, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge 
across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, Florida, is 
a single-leaf bascule bridge with a six-foot vertical clearance at mean 
high water in the closed position. The normal operating schedule for 
the bridge is found in 33 CFR 117.317(c).
    On August 11, 2023, the Coast Guard published a temporary deviation 
entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Okeechobee Waterway, 
Stuart, FL'' in the Federal Register (88 FR 54487). That temporary 
deviation, effective from 12:01 a.m. on August 15, 2023, through 11:59 
p.m. on December 17, 2023, allows the drawbridge to operate on a more 
predictable schedule due to the significant increase in railway 
activity.
    On November 7, 2023, the Coast Guard published a notice reopening 
the comment period until November 30, 2023, because service was delayed 
on the passenger train (88 FR 76666).
    The Coast Guard has determined an extension of the temporary 
deviation is necessary to allow for the review of public comments, 
while providing continuity in the operation of the drawbridge until a 
determination is made if this temporary deviation will meet the 
reasonable needs of competing modes of transportation.
    Under this temporary deviation modification from 12:01 a.m. on 
December 18, 2023, through 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024, the FEC 
Railroad Bridge will be maintained in the fully open-to-navigation 
position, except during periods when it is closed for the passage of 
train traffic, to conduct inspections, and to perform maintenance and 
repairs authorized by the Coast Guard. However, the bridge will not be 
closed for more than 50 consecutive minutes in any given hour during 
daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and for more than 8 total hours 
during daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
    Notwithstanding the above paragraph, the drawbridge will open and 
remain open to navigation for a fixed 10-minute period at the top of 
each hour from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, the drawbridge will open 
and remain open to navigation for a fixed 15-minute period as outlined 
in the table below:

                                 Table 1
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Monday through Friday:
  8:55 a.m. through 9:10 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday:
  8:55 a.m. through 9:10 a.m.
  9:55 a.m. through 10:10 a.m.
  10:55 a.m. through 11:10 a.m.
  12:55 p.m. through 1:10 p.m.
  4:55 p.m. through 5:10 p.m.
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    From 10:01 p.m. until 5:59 a.m. daily, the drawbridge will remain 
in the fully open-to-navigation position, except during periods when it 
is closed for the passage of train traffic, to conduct inspections, and 
to perform maintenance and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard. The 
drawbridge will not be closed more than 60 consecutive minutes.
    If a train is in the track circuit at the start of a fixed opening 
period, the opening may be delayed up to, but not more than, five 
minutes. Once the train has cleared the circuit, the bridge must open 
immediately for navigation to begin the fixed opening period.
    In the event of a drawbridge operational failure, or other 
emergency circumstances impacting normal drawbridge operations, the 
drawbridge owner will immediately notify the Coast Guard Captain of the 
Port Miami and provide an estimated time of repair and return to normal 
operations.
    The drawbridge will be tended from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. The 
bridge tender will monitor VHF-FM channels 9 and 16 and will provide 
estimated times of drawbridge openings and closures, or any operational 
information requested. Operational information will be provided 24 
hours a day by telephone at (772) 403-1005.
    The drawbridge owner will maintain a mobile application. The 
drawbridge owner will publish drawbridge opening times, and the 
drawbridge owner will provide timely updates to schedules, including 
but not limited to, impacts due to emergency circumstances, 
inspections, maintenance, and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard.
    Signs will be posted and visible to marine traffic, displaying VHF 
radio contact information, application information, and the telephone 
number for the bridge tender.
    A drawbridge logbook will be maintained including the date and time 
of each closing and opening of the draw. The drawbridge logbook will 
also include all maintenance opening, closings, malfunctions, or other 
comments. During the temporary deviation, a copy of the drawbridge 
logbook for the previous week will be provided to the Seventh Coast 
Guard District Bridge Manager by 4:00 p.m. each Monday.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to 
its regular operating schedules immediately at the end of the effective 
period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating 
regulation is authorized pursuant to 33 CFR 117.35(a).


[[Page 85112]]


    Dated: December 3, 2023.
Douglas M. Schofield,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Coast Guard Seventh 
District.
[FR Doc. 2023-26850 Filed 12-6-23; 8:45 am]
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